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Gefängnisseelsorge

Solidarität mit den Armen und Ausgegrenzten

Eine der folgenschwersten Tendenzen sowohl in Pfarrgemeinden als auch was jeden Katholiken und jede Katholikin angeht: Wir haben die Sorge für Arme, Notleidende, Alte, Einsame, Gefangene, Obdachlose, Flüchtlinge usw. professionellen Hilfsorganisationen überlassen. Die können das ja viel besser als wir.

Das Problem hierbei: so einfach geht das nicht. Wir können nicht jemand anderes dafür bezahlen, unseren Nächsten zu lieben und dies in Werken der Nächstenliebe zum Ausdruck zu bringen. Jeder Mensch und jede Pfarrgemeinde ist gerufen, hier selbst aktiv zu werden.

Sehen wir uns die Bergpredigt an: das erste Mal, als Jesus Seine zwölf Jünger - Fischer, Zöllner und andere infache Menschen - zusammen sitzen hatte, brachte Er ihnen in der Bergpredigt mit einfachen Worten bei, worauf es ankommt. Was, wenn Jesus wirklich gemeint hatte, was Er damals sagt? Die Hungernden ernähren, Kranke und Gefangene besuchen usw.? Er sagte, dass wir das, was wir dem Geringsten Seiner Brüder tun, Ihm selbst tun. Jesus sprach nicht davon, einen Teil unseres Überflusses irgendwelchen Organisationen zu geben, die das besser können. Er wandte sich an jeden einzelnen von uns.

Natürlich sind professionelle Organisationen gut und wichtig, das spricht aber niemanden - weder Einzelpersonen noch Pfarrgemeinden - davon frei, selbst in dieser Richtung aktiv werden zu müssen. Die Grundvollzüge jeder Pfarrgemeinde sind untrennbar miteinander verbunden:

- Martyria (Glaubenszeugnis und Glaubensweitergabe)
- Leiturgia (Liturgie)
- Diakonia (Werke der Nächstenliebe)
- Koinonia (Gemeinschaft als Glieder des einen Leib Christi)

Wir können uns nicht eines herausnehmen (etwa die Liturgie) und den Rest anderen überlassen. Ohne Liturgie, ohne die Eucharistie als lebensspendende Quelle, macht alles andere keinen Sinn. Ohne Werke der Nächstenliebe aber wird auch Liturgie zu einer leeren Hülse.

Wir zeigen Solidarität mit Armen, Ausgegrenzten und Notleidenden jeglicher Art, indem wir auf gleiche Augenhöhe mit ihnen gehen, nicht indem wir ihnen eine Münze hinwerfen. Wenn wir ihnen nicht mit Liebe begegnen und wenn wir ihnen nicht selbst begegnen, macht alles andere keinen Sinn.


You don't need to bring us Jesus!

Yes, we've been gone for so long. We've been outsiders - and still are. "The marginalized" you call us - and you use us to knock off your loving the unlovable off the list. You want to bring Jesus to us hookers, pimps, inmates, gays, drug addicts, homeless and what not. We don't need you to bring us Jesus so you feel better and can tap yourselves on your shoulders. Jesus is already here. Yes, we left our old lives behind, but we are still "we" - and that's alright with God. We went to those nice and fancy church buildings where they all asemble - all those nicely dressed people, some of which we knew too well from their double lives. They "welcome" us, but all the time they let us feel they are something better - and we are not.
Oh, they certainly know how to hide that behind spiritually or wanna-be-psychologically sounding phrases - "You might want to pray about...", "Don't take it personal, but...", "A Christian does not say/wear/do this/does not listen to this music...", "This looks like you're still gay/a hooker/a drug addict/a criminal..." - you get the point.

Then you wonder why so many call Christians hypocrite. Because many of you are. We sure don't need churches and Christians like these and we can smell your true attitude a mile away. This is why we feel much better among our own. Yes, we are Christians now - and certainly not worse ones than you are - and this is why our folks love us like we are. No "but" attached. And vice versa. We do not have to look like a middle class American John Doe in his suit and tie to worship the Lord. We dress up for Him - but that might look different than what you know. Who are you to tell us we should pray about our behavior - meaning to say you are standing on your hill, pretending to be God and having all the truth in the world. You are a sinner like the rest of us, not better, not worse.

When we follow Jesus, we are dead serious about it. We see you spreading much "wisdom" on facebook and telling everybody what should be done - but when we ask you to join us going out on the street to all those wild places where you find those people Jesus loves so much, you give us a trillion excuses why you cannot come along. Teary-eyed snowflakes, that's what you are. Chicken. Your house is not built on a rock and your seed fell among thorns.

So with all of our heart we tell you: Keep on doing whatever you think you should be doing, but leave us and our likes alone. We don't need you. We need Jesus - and we assemble for and with Him and we go to meet Him. Actually, it is pretty easy. He assembled twelve simple men called apostles and told them on the Sermon of the Mount the basics of what a believer in God is all about. This is what we go by.

We have two words for you:

Bless you.

Rob

Beitrag von Homosexuals Anonymous.

What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

Matthew 5:1-48

King James Version (KJV)
Matthew 5

 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 21Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

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Beitrag von I Love Being Catholic.

Communion at Protestant or Evangelical Services?

I am active in many groups/teams that are made up of various faith based beliefs. Activities include faith based programs and services such as KAIROS prison ministry. At some of these a communion service is offered. I have been told that communion by someone other then an ordained priest, from the lineage of Peter, is not communion and there is no problem. It is just a symbol and not a real communion. What is the ruling on taking communion at these services?

In some of the various Protestant and Evangelical congregations, their belief regarding communion is very close to what Catholics believe. However, only a priest ordained by a bishop who has authentic apostolic authority can effect the change of bread and wine into the real body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ. Which means that these congregations, even though they believe they are receiving the Real Presence, are not actually doing so. They are receiving a piece of bread and some wine.

In most of the Protestant, Evangelical, and non-denominational congregations, however, not only do they not have a validly ordained priest, but they also do not even believe in the Real Presence. Their communion service is meant to be merely a symbol.

So, either way you look at it, it is essentially correct to say that in the Protestant, Evangelical, non-denominational, and other such communities, communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is merely a symbol. The question is, does that make it okay for Catholics to receive? The answer is: No, it does not.

In the Catholic Church, we believe the reception of Communion is the sign and symbol of union - union between Christ and those who receive Him, and union between all those who receive Christ in this sacrament.

In a marriage, the physical union of husband and wife is the sign and the symbol of union between the two. If there is no union - no lifelong commitment - then the sign of union should not take place. Which means sex outside of marriage is a lie - you are saying with your bodies that a union exists, that a commitment has been made, when no such union actually exists.

Just so, it is a lie for someone who is not Catholic to receive Communion in the Catholic Church, when there is first no union with the Catholic Church. When you receive Communion in the Catholic Church, you are saying with your body that you are in union with the Church and that you believe as we believe. And not just in regard to the Real Presence, but also in regard to the Pope, to Mary, to the other Sacraments, to the Communion of Saints, the priesthood, salvation, and so on. If there is no union, there should be no Communion.

The same holds when you receive communion in a non-Catholic faith tradition. You are saying, with your body, that you believe as they believe. You are telling everyone present that there is essentially no difference between what they believe about communion and what you, as a Catholic, believe about Communion. You are telling a lie with your body. That is why Catholics should not receive communion, or the Lord’s Supper, outside the bounds of the Catholic Church.

(Source: Bible Christian Society / John Martignoni. http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/apologetics/two_minute. Used with permission)

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We as Christians are called to go and and make disciples. We should never content ourselves just meeting on a weekly basis like a religious club and listening to nicely sounding messages. Going out, however, means going out to those who need the Lord most: The poor, the sick, the lonely, the drug addicts, the hookers, the sexually broken, the gays, the desperate, the criminals, the inmates and many more. That means diving into their (!) waters. Only working on finding new ways to lure people into the Church (building) won't cut the deal. Those people will not even waste a thought on our nicely thought-out programs. If we go to where they are at though, we need to be aware that this is the kingdom of the Prince of the Air. These are highly dangerous waters, even though they offer us the greatest challenge for a rich harves for the Lord. To go there means to prepare - to put on our spiritual armour. Having a daily spiritual structure and surrounding ourselves with good and solid Christians is crucial if we want to face the evil. Then again - there is nothing like that. THIS is what Jesus wants us to do and where he wants us to be at. All the angels in heaven will cheer for each sould saved, for each sheep that finds its way back to the flock! Hallelujah!

Seek Me!

Jeremiah 29:13

King James Version (KJV)

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

The Great Commandment

Matthew 22:36-40

King James Version (KJV)

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

King James Version (KJV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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The Year of Faith

Bishop Ricken Offers ‘10 Ways Catholics Can Live The Year Of Faith’: http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-150.cfm

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